preparation

American  

[prep-uh-rey-shuhn] / ˌprɛp əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

preparations plural

1. a proceeding, measure, or provision by which one prepares for something.

   preparations for a journey.

2. any proceeding, experience, or the like considered as a mode of preparing for the future.

3. an act of preparing.

4. the state of being prepared.

5. something prepared, manufactured, or compounded.

   a special preparation for sunbathers.

6. a specimen, as an animal body, prepared for scientific examination, dissection, etc.

7. Music.

   1. the preparing of a dissonance, by introducing the dissonant tone as a consonant tone in the preceding chord.

   2. the tone so introduced.

8. New Testament. the day before the Sabbath or a feast day.

9. British. work done by students in preparation for class; homework.

10. the Preparation, the introductory prayers of the Mass or other divine service.

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preparation British  

/ ˌprɛpəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of preparing

2. the state of being prepared; readiness

3. (often plural) a measure done in order to prepare for something; provision

   to make preparations for something

4. something that is prepared, esp a medicinal formulation

5. 1. homework

   2. Usually shortened to: prep.  the period reserved for this

6. music

   1. the anticipation of a dissonance so that the note producing it in one chord is first heard in the preceding chord as a consonance

   2. a note so employed

7. (often capital) the preliminary prayers at Mass or divine service

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpreparation
  noun
• prepreparation
  noun
• self-preparation
  noun
• superpreparation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• preparations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of preparation

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English preparacion, from Latin praeparātiōn-, stem of praeparātiō, from praeparāt(us) “made ready beforehand” (past participle of praeparāre “to make ready beforehand”; see prepare) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Preparation is the act of preparing — getting ready, planning, training, or studying with a goal in mind. If you know pre means before, then you have a clue to the meaning of preparation. Dressing up before a date, learning your lines for a play, and attending medical school are all forms of preparation. Boot camp is preparation for soldiers. Rehearsal is preparation for actors. In cooking a huge meal, you have to do a lot of preparation before actually beginning to cook. If you fail a test, you clearly need to do more preparation next time.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

preparation preparations

“Settlers arrived with national foods, preparation and cooking methods,” says Venner.

From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026

St. John Bosco, the preseason No. 1 team in The Times’ top 25 rankings, begins preparation for its Aug. 21 road opener in Las Vegas against Bishop Gorman.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

It’s a frustrating truth that preparation and hard work don’t always protect us from how unforgiving life can be.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

But, with limited preparation time a significant factor, the Games' return to Glasgow a much smaller event.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

“My former headmistress, Miss Mortimer, has sent us a guidebook describing all the important sights of London. It should provide us with an excellent preparation for our trip.”

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

Since L.A. was awarded the Games almost a decade ago, the 18-year-old watched preparations slowly improve the infrastructure of his hometown.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Mark Prinzinger, co-owner of a sports bar in Philadelphia, made extensive preparations for the tournament.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

Tesla amended its presentation in April to signal that preparations are underway for those cities but did not give a timeline.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

The South Yorkshireman has used Birkdale on many occasions to hone links preparations for past Opens.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

After a flurry of last-minute preparations and speeches, marshals quickly arranged the marchers in a column, six abreast, and the march finally got under way at 12:47 p.m.

From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• arrangement
• construction
• education
• establishment
• formation
• groundwork
• measure
• plan
• precaution
• preparedness
• qualification
• rehearsal
• study
• training